Have Bike, Will Travel

whit yost

When you race or work for a professional cycling team, you get used to traveling—a lot. For teams competing almost exclusively in Europe, travel time is less extreme as most countries are relatively close to one another. But for riders competing on US domestic teams, trips to races can become a bit more extreme—especially when many of those events occur in Asia, South America, and Australia.

Take San Diego’s Team Jelly Belly p/b Kenda, for instance. As the US race calendar contains fewer UCI-categorized races than on other continents, Jelly Belly has become one of several domestic squads to travel abroad in search of more competitive fields, better prize money, and UCI points.

In April the team sent a squad to the Tour of Korea, a race they won in 2010. A veteran traveler who’s made the trip to Asia “too many times to count,” Brad Huff finished sixth in the eight-day race and then won his first race of the season—the Dana Point Grand Prix in California—less than a week after returning to the US. Here he offers some travel tips to those of us planning summer cycling vacations of our own:

Cover Your Bases

“Pack light, but bring at least one piece of clothing for every weather condition,” says Huff. “If you think you might encounter it, bring it!” Shoot for versatility over specificity. Arm warmers and a vest might be a better choice than a long sleeve jersey. Knee and leg warmers can turn a pair of shorts into knickers or tights. Also, checked bags can get lost, so pack your shoes, socks, pedals, glasses, helmet, heart rate monitor, a jersey, and pair of shorts in your carry-on. This way, even if your luggage goes missing, you can ride as soon as you land.

Eat, Hydrate, and Sleep on the Plane

Brad tries to eat light and healthy foods on the plane, while drinking as much as water as possible. Be careful with alcohol as well. Used in moderation, it can help you sleep, but too much can leave you dehydrated. Brad also uses compression socks and tights for the long flights to keep his legs feeling fresh. Sometimes he brings a little bit of protein mix to make a recovery shake when he lands.

Fighting Jet Lag? Don’t Nap

“Whatever you do, do not nap when you land,” says Huff. Instead, he recommends going for a ride to help your body re-adjust its internal clock. “Ride as soon as you can, but don't force it—just ride easy.” If riding’s not an immediate option, consider other physical activities to help your body adjust. “I once had a teammate who would do a few laps if the hotel had a pool.”

When in Doubt, Don’t Eat It

This depends on your destination, but if you’re going somewhere really exotic, be careful what you eat. When Brad races in Asia, he’s especially careful to choose pre-packaged foods or dishes that have been cooked heavily. He avoids fresh or uncooked ingredients—especially vegetables—and is careful about eating meat. “I stick with rice, bread (butter and jelly can be found pre-packaged), fruit that has a peel, and pasta (only because it’s usually boiled).”

Know Your Measurements

When traveling with a bike, Huff recommends taking it to your local shop to be disassembled and packed carefully. “Always mark your seat post height before you go. I prefer silver sharpies as they show up much better and are not prone to moving like electrical tape.” Take measurements of your bike (start with saddle height and the distance between the tip of your saddle to the center of your bars) so that if your bike is lost you can replicate your position on a loner.

Expect the Unexpected

Brad has just about seen it all. “I once had to wait three hours in Beijing’s airport for a cleaning lady to bring me a carbon fiber wheel I had left at the passport checkpoint,” he says.

“It was an easy situation to resolve, but airport security made it much more difficult than it had to be. There was no point in freaking out though—there was nothing I could do to change their minds.”

Unexpected hiccups and delays are common when traveling abroad—especially with a bike. Being prepared and giving yourself extra time can go a long way toward a relaxing and fun trip.

About Road Scholar

Whit Yost's "past life" experiences might fit most cycling fans' definitions of living the dream. He's raced as an amateur on Belgian cobbles, traveled Europe to help build a pro team, and piloted that team from Malaysia to Mont Ventoux. As an assistant director with Mercury-Viatel, he worked with Gord Fraser, Floyd Landis, and Peter Van Petegem. 1996 Tour of Italy champion Pavel Tonkov calls him "direttore."

As Bicycling's Road Scholar, he'll demystify and examine racing through the lens of the everyman, and offer tips and advice to help any cyclist ride faster, stronger, and smarter.